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October 2008 Jobcentre Plus Managers Update The October edition includes information on: Child Maintenance redesign National Minimum Wage increases In and Out of Work Community Care Grants New rules for volunteers New scheme for diffuse mesothelioma sufferers ESA launches Lone Parent Obligations changes Atos Healthcare problems

September 2008 Jobcentre Plus Managers Update The September edition includes information on: Security - memory sticks ESA Lone Parent Obligations Gainers’ Exercise Cold Weather Payments Energy Efficiency Employment Initiative Community Care Grants In and Out of Work Pilots Better Off In Work Credit Pilot New Identity Cards for foreign nationals

February 2008 Jobcentre Plus Managers Update The February edition includes information on: Employ ability – a national campaign to encourage employers to view people with disabilities more positively. Gangmasters Jobseeker’s Regime and flexible New Deal Project ESA

December 2007 Jobcentre Plus Managers Update The December edition includes information on: Referring Jobcentre Plus staff to atos Healthcare after 8 days off sick in a year Provider led Pathways to work Employment and support allowance Centralisation of switchboard services for Jobcentres

April 2007 JobCentre Plus Managers Update The April edition includes: 5 more Benefits Delivery Centres go live, bring the total to 41 out of a planned 77. Provider led Pathways to go live on 3 December 2007. Invitation to tender has been re-issued. Successful bidders to be informed 2 July, contracts to be awarded 3 September.

March 2007 JobCentre Plus Managers Update The March edition includes: Failure to meet Job Outcome Targets and Employer Outcome Targets. National social care campaign to encourage more people to take jobs in this area. Ministers keen to promote housing benefit and council tax benefit as in-work benefits.

February 2007 JobCentre Plus Managers Update The February edition includes: 3 more Benefit processing centres go live Security notes: mobile phones and voicemails vulnerable to interception. Jobcentre Plus diversity challenge Phase 1 of Provider led Pathways roll out put back to end of 2007 because of need to deal with expected increase in volumes of referrals when Employment Support Allowance is introduced in 2008. New internet based telephone service starts to be rolled-out. JC+ and Randstad Inhouse Services to work closely to help fill lower end of the skills spectrum jobs in companies such as Argos, Boots, Cadburys, Samsung and Walkers.

November 2006 JobCentre Plus Managers Update The November edition includes: Jobcentre Plus led Pathways rolled out in 3 more areas. Condition Management Programme presentations held for prospective Provider led Pathways.

October 2006 JobCentre Plus Managers Update This month's edition has information about: Expenses for volunteers: changes to the policy relating to volunteer lunches. A new intranet site highlighting services available from the Voluntary and Community sector. The site aims to encourage partnership working between JC+ and local voluntary and community groups. Mandatory training for JC+ staff in diversity and equality.

A reminder to managers that they should make their teams aware that they cannot refuse clerical [paper] claims and that customers remain free to decide how they wish to make a claim. If your agency is having trouble with a local office saying that all claims should be made by phone, fax them a copy of page 3 of the update and ask them to explain why the manager's not doing their job.

An admission that the 'JobCentre plus change portfolio has been too big to manage' for some time. The update sets out which projects are to be concentrated on in the future.

Information on the 'Trailblazer' project for improving JC+ services, including fortnightly jobsearch reviews.

Information on the Jobs Warehouse which allows approved recruitment agencies and large employers to bulk upload jobs directly to the JC+ database.

News of the transfer of work from Newcastle Disability Benefits Centre. The bad news for people living in the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear area (postcodes NE, SR and TD) is that their claims will now be assessed by Bootle. This means that in future they will be subject to the computerised DLA assessment system being piloted there. (

Information on 7 'quick wins' being introduced to improve service to customers, including the national introduction of JSA, IS and IB rapid reclaim.

The announcement of the introduction of an Adult Learning Option providing opportunities for claimants with low skills levels to study for a qualification whilst receiving financial support and retaining underlying benefits entitlement. The scheme is restricted to certain named areas of the country.

Information on tackling official error including earlier alerts for the expiry of medical certificates and a mandatory review of severe disability premium entitlement on a change of address notification.

Warning of delay to the introduction of a new computerised Business Control System due to the large number of system errors, which EDS has said it will fix at no cost to the DWP.

A reminder to manager that they should tell staff that 'Work is not a reportable relevant change of circumstances for DLA . . . '. This is somewhat undermined by the further information that 'A DLA customer starting or returning to work may indicate a change to the customers care or mobility needs'.

News that all DWP staff are to get new computers, new flat screen monitors and new phones. Within 18 months all DWP communications will be via Voice over IP - i.e. internet phones. So you can look forward to a plummeting in the quality of telephone calls. Some staff will also be able to use a 'follow me' system for calls, meaning that they will be able to fail to answer calls not just from their own phone but from other people's phones too.

News of a new telephone interpreting system and a reminder that customers should never be told to obtain an interpreter or to bring one with them unless they wish to: JC+ should provide all necessary interpreting services.

Survey prize

PIP feedback

APPEALS

PIP mandatory reconsideration and JSA sanction success“First want to say thank you to you all. I could not and indeed would not have done it without your factual, helpful and prompt replies. I did chase my MP and received a reply from them almost by return with an apology from DWP…Today I got a large back pay and standard rate care award and enhanced level mobility unchanged.

PIP reconsideration success“After reading my support letter as well as my report they have decided to award me the extra 2 points giving me a total of 12 for the Enhanced care on daily living component. It is with only reading this great web site, that give great advice that I decided to pursue this further. Once again thanks for all your valuable support and advice.”

DLA TO PIP

DLA to PIP success“…pleased and relieved that they recognised my needs…Thank you so much for producing the guides, they are so helpful and made me feel supported, even though I was still very stressed throughout the whole process.”

AWARDS

PIP success“Hello, I had the letter a few days ago…I'm happy that I have good news. I got awarded the standard rate of daily living, no mobility. From March 2014 till Feb 2017. That's a result I never expected to receive. It should help me with my health a lot…I used the guide from Benefits and Work, and had magnificant help from other people. I'm very grateful to everyone here. Thank you.”

PIP result“Partner had a result for PIP without a face-face...Standard Daily (Living)…Again the guides etc on here had a massive part in this result.. Thanks”

PIP decision – success!“I would just like to thank you and your site for helping me through my pip claim! I have been awarded enhanced rate care and enhanced rate mobility I feel so relieved I could cry! Many thanks for all your help!”

PIP awarded“I have received a decision from DWP and have been awarded Higher Rate [Daily Living] and Lower Rate [Mobility]. Thank you to all at B&W for the quality and accuracy of all your advice and information.”

PIP success“The dreaded brown envelope dropped on the mat this morning. I have been awarded enhanced rate for care and standard rate for mobility…Thank you so much for your excellent guides and patient support...”

PIP enhanced rates awarded“Many thanks for your excellent web site and help I've received...Received a decision yesterday and it was for the enhanced rate for both components. I can't thank you enough for the help and support.”

PIP enhanced daily living and mobility“I also wanted to thank you for this website as it helped me be aware on the assessment and also helped me with ESA support group Tribunal last year. I have just received notification that I have been awarded enhanced PIP for living and mobility. I know I wouldn't have got this result without your guides so would like to thank you very much for providing this website. Now I can get a blue badge, create parking in my garden and hopefully leave my house more than 6 times a year! I will also be able to get someone to go shopping with me (only been shopping once this year) so the difference this will make is amazing. Thank you so much.”

PIP enhanced mobility and daily living“Letter arrived Saturday, awarded mobility and daily living at enhanced rates. Would like to thank all those involved with this site for their knowledge and help.”

PIP enhanced care and mobility“A few days ago the brown envelope dropped through the letterbox, and I am very relieved and pleased to report that my husband has been awarded enhanced care and mobility for 3 years. I cannot explain how we both felt in fact we were quite dazed. I cannot believe it is all over for at least 3 years…The site is worth every penny of your membership fee, and I , as before will keep up my membership, even though, we have been successful this time, I may need their help along the way again…I am so grateful to you all for your wonderful informative site and cannot thank you enough for your help.”

PIP Success“I have been awarded Standard care and standard mobility for 3 years, to be reassessed in November 2016! I'm so chuffed and relieved. I can finally sleep at night and feel like a massive weight has been lifted! Thank you to this forum and it's members for the help and support.”

PIP success“Huge, huge thank you…Well ive been crying with relief for an hour now, Thank you so much for your brilliant website and knowledge, I had my PIP decision today…low rate care and High rate Mobility. I can't thank you enough. Wonderful, just wonderful”

PIP been awarded at last!“…got my letter on Saturday from the DWP…I have been given enhanced daily living component…my husband and I would like to thank you for your excellent guides that helped us at the medical and gain the money. The best subs I have ever spent Thank from the bottom of my heart.”

Finally - PIP awarded“I have received the brown envelope today and finally contains good news, I have been awarded the daily living component, and the mobility component of personal independence payment .I am soo happyyy Thank you sooo much BW for all your support and help and good luck to everyone.”

PIP Success“… i have just come of the phone to the dwp decision maker who rang me …to inform me i had been awarded enhanced pip and mobility and i would receive backpay to the date i originally applied and he also apologised for the long wait…thanks to B & W for all the guides and help”